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Millions of people benefit directly from their local park and recreation agencies in many ways—as gathering places to meet with friends and family, open spaces to exercise and reconnect with nature or as community resources where they can get a nutritious meal. We have always known that local and regional public parks add significant value and benefits to their communities in terms of Conservation, Health & Wellness and Social Equity. Beyond that, local and regional park agencies are also engines of economic activity in their communities.

The following resources have been gathered to assist you with justifying your parks and programs economically. If you have any future resources that would be a good fit on this page, or you encounter any problems, please contact ORPA Staff Amanda Parsons.

Economic Impact of Oregon State Parks

Visitors to Oregon state parks in 2016 contributed $1.1 billion to the state's economy and supported 16,000 full- and part-time jobs, according to a report released today by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).

The report, Economic Activity from Recreation Use of Oregon State Park Properties -- System Report, measures how communities near parks benefited economically from the 54 million-plus visits to state parks in 2016. Visitor spending supported 16,000 full-and part-time jobs statewide, equating to a combined salary of $550 million.

OPRD's analysis of the report found that each dollar invested in the Oregon State Parks system generates $30.50 in related economic activity.

2018 Economic Impact of Local Parks Report - NRPA

If you are looking for hard numbers on the financial benefits of local parks, this is it. This annual report looks at key findings for the direct, indirect, and induced effects of parks spending by identifying a national level economic impact.

Outdoor Recreation Survey - Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

In preparation for the 2018-2022 Oregon Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) conducted a statewide survey of Oregon residents regarding their 2017 outdoor recreation participation in Oregon, as well as their opinions about park and recreation management. This report provides the results of the statewide survey.